“AS SOLOMON FINISHED PRAYING, FIRE FLASHED DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND BURNED UP [THE OFFERING AND] THE SACRIFICES! AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TEMPLE….”
2 Chron . 7:1 TLB

WOW! As I read the rest of King Solomon’s story, I search for words to try to express God’s glory now filling my heart; but there are no words or human language to describe our glorious God! I feel like following the people of Israel who witnessed this awesome moment —

“All the people had been watching and now they fell down flat on the pavement, and worshipped and thanked the Lord”! 2 Chron. 7:3 TLB

Oh my God — what a day, what a sight! The story also tells how the priests of God could not even enter the new Temple because God’s glory had filled it and utterly consumed it!

So, what had happened? What would bring such glory down to His people? Ah, read it carefully: The fire was God’s approval and acceptance of the people’s offerings and sacrifice!

We read of Solomon’s gift of 1,000 burnt offerings, as he began the giant task of building God’s Temple — God’s home on earth. That gift was, no doubt, the seed that grew and brought this great Temple into being and finally to this glorious day of dedication. Oh, may we learn a most important lesson from King Solomon: When facing his greatest need, he gave to God his greatest offering!

Yes, God did provide everything Solomon needed and now on dedication day, what did Solomon and the people do?

“Then the king and all the people dedicated the Temple by sacrificing burnt offerings to the Lord.” 2 Chron. 7:4-5 TLB

Yes, the king’s thank you offering was well over 1,000 times greater than his first “seed offering” to God! And while all this giving was going on, the priests were standing at their posts of duty while the Levites were playing their thanksgiving song, “HIS LOVINGKINDNESS IS FOREVER”!

So, can we have glorious days and supernatural events like Solomon had? Yes — a thousand times, YES! We all face impossible problems, needs, perhaps mountains of debt. But, please remember:

SOLOMON DID NOT GO INTO DEBT TO BUILD THE TEMPLE — HE GAVE GOD A SIGNIFICANT SEED FIRST!

Here it is: God took that seed and multiplied it so that Solomon had everything he needed to build, just as he needed it, so that this great and most glorious house of God was finished — hear it and shout — DEBT FREE! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord a thousand times!

Dear partners, as you bring your offerings and pledges to God this coming Praise-a-Thon®, do two important things: NAME YOUR SEED, i.e, “out of debt,” “new job,” “debt free home,” “better car,” and on and on — you name it. Then, wrap your seed with expectant faith. Remember dear Oral Roberts who taught us to “EXPECT A MIRACLE”? How we loved dear Brother Roberts and miss him greatly since he went home to be with Jesus a year ago. But, his revelation of seed faith giving has blessed and prospered the whole body of Christ! Glory! What a legacy he has left us. Now, I say in Jesus’ name — LET’S USE IT!

Jan and I will join you as we give our regular February gift — and then make or renew a significant pledge on the enclosed pledge slip. Many of you do not have the amount of your pledge — but take that step of faith. Malachi heard the voice of God who said:

“I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!” Mal. 3:10 TLB

So, did it work the second time for Solomon? Oh, yes — but first:

“One night the Lord appeared to Solomon and told him, ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place where I want you to sacrifice to me.’” 2 Chron. 7:12 TLB

Oh, but here in addition is the awesome promise God makes to Solomon:

“I will listen wide awake to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple…to be my home forever; my eyes and my heart shall always be here.” 2 Chron. 7:15-16

God virtually gave Solomon a blank check so that anything he needed was his — just come to this place where God’s eyes and heart were perpetually open! The rest of this story is glorious. Solomon built to his heart’s desire from Jerusalem all the way up to Lebanon. The kings of the known world brought him billions of gold in tribute. The Queen of Sheba came with camels loaded with spices, gold and jewelry. Egypt brought gold, silver, clothing, spices, horses, and mules! Finally, there is hardly any more to say, so the Bible simply concludes: “So King Solomon was richer and wiser than any other king in all the earth” (2 Chron. 9:22 TLB). And all of this grand and glorious story started with a seed faith gift to God!

As I write this letter to you, I just received this thought: What will be said or recorded of my stewardship of my journey through this life when I stand before my KING? A very sobering thought, don’t you agree? I hope it moves you as it does me. Let’s all make a significant gift or pledge while we can! TBN is your Voice and its 77 satellite footprints are on the air now covering the world; but remember Jesus’ own words: “The night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4).

We’ll sing and shout His glory together February 27 – March 6. Let’s keep this great Voice to the whole wide world — YOUR TBN — on the air till Jesus comes!

Jan and I love you more and more — now nearly 38 years strong!

YOU MAY MAKE OR RENEW YOUR PLEDGE BY MAIL OR ON TBN’S SECURE WEBSITE: www.tbn.org

Your gift or pledge may not bring down actual fire from heaven as King Solomon’s did, but God’s own word guarantees that if you “GIVE, YOU WILL RECEIVE” (Luke 6:38 NLT)!

Jesus also makes it clear that for anything we have given up for His Kingdom: “houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands” we will receive 100 times over in this life and in the world to come “eternal life”!

Dear partner, whatever your need, as dear Oral Roberts taught us, “PLANT A SEED!” Do it now. Make your Praise-a-Thon® pledge or gift and prove the faithfulness of God. Do what God Himself did when He needed a family: He planted heaven’s best seed—Jesus, His own Son! So, what did God receive? Millions of sons and daughters—and you and I are one of them!

Jan and I will join you and will be looking for your seed! We love you!

We’ll sing and shout the glory down with Jan and the team at the Holy Land Experience!